He was close enough that he could reach out his hand and touch her back through her gown. Even that limited sensation would be close to heaven, but they were surrounded by guests on all sides who might observe him. Maybe I could…no, I cannot risk it. In fact, the logical part of him dictated that he should depart her immediate vicinity, but he could not bring himself to move a muscle.
The Gardiners went to join the dancing and Miss Bingley promptly took their place. Darcy suppressed a groan since Miss Bingley topped the list of people he would like to keep away from Elizabeth. She knew about Lydia and Wickham – and had every reason to wish Elizabeth ill. His protective instincts surged before the woman said anything.
“Dear Georgiana! So pleasant to see you again!” She greeted his sister with such embarrassing effusiveness that Georgiana was immediately uncomfortable and quickly excused herself to greet a friend. Then Miss Bingley turned to Elizabeth, “And my dear Eliza Bennet! What an unexpected pleasure.”
“Miss Bingley,” Elizabeth replied, her tone carefully neutral.
“I want to tell you how sorry I was to hear of your sister’s disgrace! That loss must be felt very keenly. My heart goes out to your entire family.” Her words were warm, but her delivery could not have been falser. Darcy’s ire rose immediately, but before he could say anything, Elizabeth responded.
“Thank you, Miss Bingley, I will take your words in the spirit in which they were intended.” It took Darcy a minute to notice how barbed this response was.
Miss Bingley’s false smile turned sour as she noticed the slight. “I am surprised you do not feel the need to be by your parents’ side at a time like this. Your mother’s nerves must be in a sorry state.”
“I will be departing for Hertfordshire very soon,” Elizabeth said serenely.
“I am sure you miss it very much. I have heard that many country-born ladies become very attached to the lands of their birth. And to be so far away from your family….” Every word she uttered dripped with condescension.
“I do miss Hertfordshire,” Elizabeth said. “But I think I could live anywhere happily if those I loved were with me.” She glanced sidelong at Darcy, and he returned her grin. A quick frown creased Miss Bingley’s features – Elizabeth had scored a hit. Why on earth had he thought he needed to defend his wife from anyone? Georgiana drifted back to the group and appeared to notice the tension between the other two women. Darcy was thankful that she had missed the conversation about Lydia’s scandal; although, he knew he would have to tell her of Wickham eventually.
Miss Bingley was quick to launch another attack. “I have the happy talent for being at home wherever I am. Why I was in Paris five months ago and felt not the least bit of homesickness!”
Elizabeth rose to the challenge. “Yes, Paris is enough to make anyone forget their homesickness. I was there not a fortnight ago.”
“You were in Paris?” Miss Bingley could not conceal her astonishment.
“Yes, I even encountered Mr. Darcy at a ball there. Did he not mention it to you?” Elizabeth radiated so much insincere innocence Darcy was tempted to laugh. “He was such a great help to me in getting out of the country when all the unpleasantness erupted.”
Clearly nonplussed by this information, Miss Bingley murmured, “Mr. Darcy is always a valuable friend.”
“Indeed.”
Darcy enjoyed how well Elizabeth had handled this attack. Now Miss Bingley would wonder how he had helped Elizabeth escape France and how closely they had associated. However, she would tell no one; exposing that he had possibly compromised Elizabeth’s reputation would not serve Miss Bingley’s purposes at all.
Finally Miss Bingley said, “I think I will collect some punch. It is a little warm in here.” She glanced at Darcy as if hoping he would beg her to stay, but when he said nothing she quickly melted into the crowd.
Darcy leaned close to Elizabeth and whispered in her ear, “Well played, darling.”
Georgiana was watching Elizabeth with ill-concealed glee. “I hope sometime you can teach me how you do that.” Darcy knew that Georgiana disliked Miss Bingley, but feared her sharp tongue.
“It is not difficult,” Elizabeth explained with a lively twinkle in her eye. “Although it does help if you find the other person very vexing.”
Georgiana and Darcy were still laughing when his aunt arrived, giving Darcy a withering glance for associating with Elizabeth – although he found it hard to care. His aunt had another young lady in tow and Darcy found himself obligated to invite her to dance. Her purpose accomplished, Lady Matlock retreated, undoubtedly in search of fresh women to foist on him.
After a dance with an unobjectionable lady whose biggest flaw was that she was not Elizabeth, Darcy returned to Elizabeth and the Gardiners. He was horrified to see Lord Lennox holding Elizabeth’s hand. Jealousy surged through him. During their travels in France, Lennox had haunted Darcy’s dreams nightly, always swooping in to claim Elizabeth before he had a chance to declare his love for her. In one of his dreams, Elizabeth had stared directly at Darcy and said matter-of-factly, “I have always wanted to marry a lord.”
Darcy tried to master his emotions, telling himself that Lennox was only holding her hand because he was preparing to escort her onto the dance floor. However, the very idea of Lennox dancing with her was itself alarming. How had that happened? Why had he left her unattended even for a second?
He hurried over to the pair. “Miss Bennet, I apologize for leaving so abruptly. I had intended to ask you for this dance.”
To his jealous eye, Elizabeth gazed at him rather coolly, “I am sorry, I have promised this dance to Lord Lennox. But the next dance is available.” Darcy stood rooted to the spot, trying to restrain his urge to wrench her hand from Lennox’s. At that moment, he would have happily thrown Elizabeth over his shoulder and carried her back to Darcy House. It did not help that Lennox gave him a triumphant smirk.
As the two passed him, Elizabeth gave a sudden lurch as if falling, causing Darcy to instinctively reach out to steady her. Her mouth came near his ear and she whispered, “Do not worry. I am not planning to marry him!” An involuntary smile came to Darcy’s lips.
“Sorry,” she said to Darcy in a normal tone of voice. “My slipper caught in my hem. Thank you for your assistance.” Then she put her hand on Lennox’s arm and said lightly: “I promise not to be so clumsy on the dance floor!”
“You could never be less than graceful!” Lennox said gallantly and swept her away.
As he watched them dance, Darcy tried to retain the sense of reassurance her jest had given him, but it was short lived. He could not tear his eyes away from them, instead noticing every laugh and gesture they exchanged. Each time Lennox touched her, Darcy wanted to challenge him to a duel.